Who's at the head of the Eagles' rookie class? And when will Australian Jordan Mailata play?

Carson Wentz on the Eagles getting closer to gelling while Isaac Seumalo on his new chance to start on the offensive line.
Martin Frank, The News Journal

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Tight end Dallas Goedert (88), the Eagles' second-round pick last spring, is knocked out of bounds by Minnesota's Xavier Rhodes (29) during a recent game at Lincoln Financial Field.(Photo: Jerry Habraken, The News Journal)Buy Photo

PHILADELPHIA – None of the Eagles' rookies were expected to have significant roles this season.

They were all drafted at positions at which the Eagles were filled with veterans. They were expected to learn and wait for their chance, perhaps not playing until next season.

Well, as the season has gone along and injuries mounted, that has started to change for the Eagles' five draft picks.

Avonte Maddox, the Eagles' fourth-round pick, played every snap the last two games – at safety and nickel corner, two positions that he never played in college.

It's clear that Maddox has quickly become the envy of the rookie class.

"I’m jealous, but I’m happy for him," defensive end Josh Sweat, the Eagles' other fourth-round pick, said with a laugh. "I want to be out there with him. I definitely look at him as being in the same situation I’m in – if somebody goes down, I’m up."

Only the last two selections – sixth-round pick Matt Pryor and seventh-rounder Jordan Mailata, both offensive linemen – have yet to be on an active roster this season.

That could change for one of them Sunday when the Eagles face the Carolina Panthers. Left tackle Jason Peters is dealing with biceps and quadriceps injuries, although he is expected to play. Right tackle Lane Johnson has an ankle injury and has not practiced this week.

Mailata, the 6-8, 346-pound Australian who started playing football only last winter, said he's not looking at the injury situation as a chance for him to play. He knows he still has a lot to learn after playing rugby all of his life.

"I never think about it," Mailata said about playing. "As (offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland) says, he just gives me that goal, trying to get better every day. That’s my current goal."

Added Pryor, "Coach Stout always talks about being ready. So I think he does a lot in preparing the younger men to be ready. Whenever my name is called, that’s when I’ll have to step in, and I’m working every day to be prepared for that moment."

Running back Josh Adams, an undrafted free agent, has gotten into four games because of injuries. He was promoted from the practice squad last month and has seven carries for 29 yards.

Maddox's moment came because safety Rodney McLeod tore a knee ligament and was placed on injured reserve following the Eagles' game Sept. 23 against Indianapolis.

McLeod's backup, Corey Graham, then suffered a hamstring injury the following week and hasn't played since. The Eagles had no choice but to turn to Maddox, and he hasn't disappointed. He got an interception in his first game and has 16 tackles.

"When injuries happen, and they always do, you gotta be ready, be that next man to step up and fill that position," Maddox said. "You don’t want to slack now. Rodney, he was a major part of that defense. And looking at Rodney, I’m like, I don’t want to let Rodney down. I don’t want to let the team down. I put in 100 percent effort just to fill Rodney’s shoes, just to keep the defense rolling."

Sweat didn't play in the Eagles' first four games but has gotten a handful of snaps in each of the last two games because of injuries to Derek Barnett, plus a plethora of injuries at defensive tackle that has further depleted the line's depth.

Sweat got his first career tackle last Thursday against the Giants. He's still looking for his first sack.

He knew coming in that he was going to learn behind veteran defensive ends Brandon Graham, Michael Bennett and Chris Long, while also being behind Barnett, the Eagles' first-round pick in 2017.

"I think that’s one of the real good things, even though I’m not playing as much as I would like to, I can still watch those guys," Sweat said. "And maybe when guys get tired, I roll in and maybe make a big play or something like that."

Then he added with a laugh, "I’m always fresh. That’s one of the pluses. I definitely get to learn from everybody. I never take that for granted. I just come and practice hard and learn something every day."

Of all the rookies, second-round pick Dallas Goedert, a tight end, was expected to play the most. But even that was going to be on a semi-regular basis behind Zach Ertz and veteran Richard Rodgers.

That changed when Rodgers started the season on injured reserve with a knee injury, although at first, Josh Perkins was getting more snaps than Goedert.

Goedert has 13 receptions for 113 yards and a touchdown. He has played at least 40 percent of the snaps in each of the last four games, and the Eagles have thrived lately using both Ertz and Goedert on the field at the same time.

"The pace right away from college to the NFL is a little different," Goedert said. "You’re learning new defenses and stuff. ... Definitely, you can see the leaps of improvement that everyone is making week in and week out."

Pryor said rookies and practice squad players get a little bit of extra time each Monday and Friday. And like the other rookies, he tries to learn as much as possible from the veterans ahead of him, such as Peters, Johnson and right guard Brandon Brooks.

"I feel like I’m like a leech, trying to stick to as much as I can," he said. "I knew the drill when I got here. I knew it would be hard to come here as a rookie and get a starting slot. I’m just here to learn."

Sidney Jones among those ruled out

Cornerback Sidney Jones (hamstring) is among a handful of players ruled out for the Eagles' game Sunday. Also, safety Corey Graham will miss his third straight game and running back Darren Sproles will miss his sixth straight game. Both have hamstring injuries. Backup linebackers D.J. Alexander (quadriceps) and Nathan Gerry (knee, ankle) are also out.

Defensive tackle Haloti Ngata (calf), who missed the last two games, is listed as questionable. He was limited in practice Friday, as were tackles Lane Johnson (ankle) and Jason Peters (biceps) and cornerback Jalen Mills (hamstring). Johnson, Peters and Mills are expected to play.

If Ngata can't play, the Eagles will be left with three defensive tackles in Fletcher Cox and little-used reserves Treyvon Hester and Bruce Hector. Defensive end Michael Bennett typically moves inside to tackle in passing situations.